Col 3: 15 AMP Version
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as an umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state) to which as (members of Christ's) one body you were also called (to live).
The extra words used in this amplified version show us quite an addendum to the following version:
NIV Col 3: 15 . . .Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And, be thankful.
It is almost like they are saying two different things. What I want to illustrate today is - this! We're watching a lot of development in our society as Americans that some of us never thought we would see. I know I didn't see it coming. As I read with fervor the book THEY FIRED THE FIRST SHOT 2012! I am impressed to note that we must stay focused and tuned into our first love, our first priority, Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is on the throne during bad and good times. We must place him back in our minds on an hourly basis. Taking captive our thoughts, fears and doubts. He is our soul harmony, He rules. Let Him be the umpire of your thoughts and questions of today. He will be the ultimate umpire deciding who is on first, 2nd and third base. We need not worry or fret. We need not be unnerved. Our duty is to pray Jesus back into our constitution and nation. It is our duty to tell others about Jesus and that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. One by one, prayer team, by prayer team, church by church, we are His body of truth-sayers. We must let the Christ we know rule our hearts and minds each day. We are called to live in that state. He is on the throne and alone He will hear us and answer our prayers.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
THE HUMDINGERS ARE COMING!
The Hummingbird is such an anomaly aren't they? I always look forward to the first one that ALWAYS comes to my office window and does that helicopter thing in mid-air. And, every year, I say, where did I put their feeder? We put it on the highest point of our deck. They allow us to sit very near while they fight each other off the feeder. I truly wonder why they make them with plenty of sides to feed from. Their color and flight plan is just amazing. They are so fast I can't imagine why they don't run into us, or a post on the deck. I also have to swallow hard this year for the Hummingbirds and Bluejays. We took away their beloved Bradley Pear Tree to hide in, sit in, and fly back and forth to the nest they make over on a roof section of the garage. There were lots more Bluejays this winter feeding at the bare Bradley where we sat up a new bird feeder. I have wondered if they are the babies all grown up from last year, and now know things are different! It will be fascinating to watch how they both adapt this spring and summer. The aerial displays will be quite fun to take movies/pictures of them to see.
I bring all that up because the Souders absolutely live for the wildlife at this place. We might not always get to see that, and every day is so amazing. Yesterday and today has been the white swans and white egrets. It is nothing to see a possum stick his head out from under the bush to see if I have food out. The three cats who visit us each are quite a sideshow, especially when Dakota gets a whiff, or sees a shadow of them racing by her to get to the food. Raccoons are gone now that the bird food is done. The deer have been scarce and now its the ground hog and muskrat season. But, as I said up top, the pretty things are about to come out and the Humdingers, wrens, bluejays, and butterflies will abound. I also bring this up because I have been reading Psalm 37. I recommend you look at Psalm 37 and read the entire thing. I most like to read Psalm 37: 4. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Many time I have had family and counselees who want me to explain that verse to them. I can talk on this verse forever. However, today I want to point you to the above paragraphs. My desire was to always live in the woods or near it. To be absorbed constantly with God's creation and everything in it. It was absolutely necessary for me to live somewhere and have a place with all windows in it. My new favorite place to sit, is in the far living room corner where I can see everything coming and going. I have had many favorite places. My office, the kitchen, the deck, and my walks. God knew I needed that for my personality because as these times we live in get nerve wracking, at least I have His creation to look at and enjoy. Those moments are important for refueling. When you read the rest of Psalm 37, it talks all about the distractions we have in life. For example, people who have more than we do, people who are after us, and the enemy who sends his distractions and worries.
All through that chapter you will read about how we are to wait upon the Lord, trust in His promises, His deliverance, and especially His gifts to us for refueling. What are those desires and petitions of your heart right now? Make a bucket list. But most of all, KNOW that we can trust God to show us how to lean on Him during these very different times.
I bring all that up because the Souders absolutely live for the wildlife at this place. We might not always get to see that, and every day is so amazing. Yesterday and today has been the white swans and white egrets. It is nothing to see a possum stick his head out from under the bush to see if I have food out. The three cats who visit us each are quite a sideshow, especially when Dakota gets a whiff, or sees a shadow of them racing by her to get to the food. Raccoons are gone now that the bird food is done. The deer have been scarce and now its the ground hog and muskrat season. But, as I said up top, the pretty things are about to come out and the Humdingers, wrens, bluejays, and butterflies will abound. I also bring this up because I have been reading Psalm 37. I recommend you look at Psalm 37 and read the entire thing. I most like to read Psalm 37: 4. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Many time I have had family and counselees who want me to explain that verse to them. I can talk on this verse forever. However, today I want to point you to the above paragraphs. My desire was to always live in the woods or near it. To be absorbed constantly with God's creation and everything in it. It was absolutely necessary for me to live somewhere and have a place with all windows in it. My new favorite place to sit, is in the far living room corner where I can see everything coming and going. I have had many favorite places. My office, the kitchen, the deck, and my walks. God knew I needed that for my personality because as these times we live in get nerve wracking, at least I have His creation to look at and enjoy. Those moments are important for refueling. When you read the rest of Psalm 37, it talks all about the distractions we have in life. For example, people who have more than we do, people who are after us, and the enemy who sends his distractions and worries.
All through that chapter you will read about how we are to wait upon the Lord, trust in His promises, His deliverance, and especially His gifts to us for refueling. What are those desires and petitions of your heart right now? Make a bucket list. But most of all, KNOW that we can trust God to show us how to lean on Him during these very different times.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
MY ONE WORD!!!!
Springing into Spring is more then one word, but actually what I mean comes from a book I am reading by Mike Ashcroft. My One Word.
Sharing a little with you right now seems appropriate. Mike Ashcroft is a pastor and came across this idea to write about choosing one word for the year. It could be Enough! It could be Faith! It could be Surrender! It could Pause! It could be Jubilant! It could be Tried!
At the end of each chapter are some short questions that are meant to challenge us about that "One Word" we chose for the year. At the beginning of this year, I would have chose Obedient! Working on that would have been quite interesting in January.
There is so much power in words. One in particular. He gave the illustration and I tried it.
He was teaching a class and asked the students to take a piece of paper and divide it into three pieces.
He noted that Type A behaviors, fold it perfectly in three places, creasing it along side of the desk, and then tearing it perfectly. Type B's simply tear it in three pieces, wanting to get on with what they are doing and not interested in what it looks like. Yep! You are right, I tore it perfectly in three creases. Then on the first piece, he asked them to draw as best they could their worst nightmare bug or thing they hated most like that. When they finished he said now you can get up and stomp as hard as you want on that piece of paper with the bug, or tear it to shreds. It got quite noisy in the room he said. The second one was the food piece you absolutely can't stand the most because of texture or taste. Draw that. They all completed the task with quick design. Then he said could spit on it, or do whatever you want, tear it up, rush it to the waste paper basket or whatever. They did. Now to your third piece of paper. I want you to put the person who raised you, your mom, grandma, and write the name Mom or whatever on that. When you are done you may put that on the floor and stomp on it or tear it up, or whatever you feel you should do with that piece of paper and idea. Total silence in the room. The importance of a WORD. And, what it means emotionally to us. Think carefully and cautiously about what is going on in your world right now. What do you feel you are dealing with that needs strong attention. An area of your life that God is talking to you about.
REFLECT:
What are some things you would like to change about yourself?
What distracts you from focusing on the change or the spiritual formation you desire?
Think about your past attempts to change. Have you made resolutions or sweeping promises to change? How well did it work?
Often our desire to change is fueled by regret - does regret generally propel you forward or hold you back?
What is your One Word that could be life changing?
Sharing a little with you right now seems appropriate. Mike Ashcroft is a pastor and came across this idea to write about choosing one word for the year. It could be Enough! It could be Faith! It could be Surrender! It could Pause! It could be Jubilant! It could be Tried!
At the end of each chapter are some short questions that are meant to challenge us about that "One Word" we chose for the year. At the beginning of this year, I would have chose Obedient! Working on that would have been quite interesting in January.
There is so much power in words. One in particular. He gave the illustration and I tried it.
He was teaching a class and asked the students to take a piece of paper and divide it into three pieces.
He noted that Type A behaviors, fold it perfectly in three places, creasing it along side of the desk, and then tearing it perfectly. Type B's simply tear it in three pieces, wanting to get on with what they are doing and not interested in what it looks like. Yep! You are right, I tore it perfectly in three creases. Then on the first piece, he asked them to draw as best they could their worst nightmare bug or thing they hated most like that. When they finished he said now you can get up and stomp as hard as you want on that piece of paper with the bug, or tear it to shreds. It got quite noisy in the room he said. The second one was the food piece you absolutely can't stand the most because of texture or taste. Draw that. They all completed the task with quick design. Then he said could spit on it, or do whatever you want, tear it up, rush it to the waste paper basket or whatever. They did. Now to your third piece of paper. I want you to put the person who raised you, your mom, grandma, and write the name Mom or whatever on that. When you are done you may put that on the floor and stomp on it or tear it up, or whatever you feel you should do with that piece of paper and idea. Total silence in the room. The importance of a WORD. And, what it means emotionally to us. Think carefully and cautiously about what is going on in your world right now. What do you feel you are dealing with that needs strong attention. An area of your life that God is talking to you about.
REFLECT:
What are some things you would like to change about yourself?
What distracts you from focusing on the change or the spiritual formation you desire?
Think about your past attempts to change. Have you made resolutions or sweeping promises to change? How well did it work?
Often our desire to change is fueled by regret - does regret generally propel you forward or hold you back?
What is your One Word that could be life changing?
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